2000annualreport[1]

Annual Report
Visions of the Future in Aeronautics and space
February 2001
NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts
555 14th Street, NW, Suite A, Atlanta, GA 30318
An Institute of the
Universities Space Research
Association

TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1
Table 1. Summary of NIAC Calls for Proposals to Date
Figure 1. Summary of the number of Phase I and Phase II awards and their relationship to the NASA
Enterprises
Figure 2. Proposals received in response to three Phase I Calls for Proposals from each business
category
Figure 3. Awards to each business category
ACCOMPLISHMENTS 3
Summary
Figure 4. Phase I and Phase II Awards Performance Periods
Call for Proposals CP 99-02 (Phase II)
Table 2. Summary of CP 99-02 Responding Organizations
Table 3. CP 99-02 Phase II Award Winners
Call for Proposals CP 99-03 (Phase I)
Table 5. CP 99-03 Phase I Award Winners
Phase II Site Visits
Table 8. Phase II Site Visits
Infusion of Advanced Concepts into NASA
Table 9. Status of Infusion of Concepts into NASA
Coordination with NASA
Table 10. NASA/NIAC Support Team
Table 11. NASA Visits
Second NIAC Annual Meeting
NIAC Workshop
Participation in Technical Society Meetings, Workshops and National Research Council Boards
Table 12. NIAC Participation in Technical Meetings
Public Relations
Inputs to NASA Technology Inventory Database
Financial Performance
Figure 5. Funds to Research as Percentage of Total NIAC Budget
DESCRIPTION OF NIAC 12
Mission
Figure 6. NIAC Mission
Organization
Figure 7. NIAC Organization
Facilities
Virtual Institute
Figure 8. Site Map of the NIAC Website
Communication and Outreach to the Science & Engineering Community

ADVANCED CONCEPT SELECTION PROCESS 18
Publicity
Solicitation
Figure 9. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals
Peer Review
NASA Concurrence
Awards
CONTRACT MANAGEMENT 20
Reports
Site Visits
PLANS FOR THE FOURTH YEAR AND BEYOND 21
Figure 10. Key Activities during the Third Contract Year
Advanced Concept Solicitation, Selection and Awards
Management of Awards
Communication with NASA, Other Federal Agencies and the Research Community
Oversight by USRA Management
APPENDIX – Description of the Phase II Awards During the First Three Years of Operation 23
CP 99-01 Abstracts and Graphics
Robert Winglee
Ilan Kroo
Steven Dubowsky
Robert Hoyt
Neville Woolf
Paul Gorenstein
Eric Rice
Kerry Nock
Ralph McNutt, Jr.
John Grant
Webster Cash
Anthony Colozza
Brad Edwards
Andy Keith
Kerry Nock
George Maise

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) has completed the third full year of operation and all
functions of the Institute have been fully implemented. During this third contract year, NIAC awarded 11
Phase II contracts totaling $5.3 million and 16 Phase I grants totaling $1.1 million. Since the beginning of
the contract, NIAC has awarded 46 Phase I grants and 16 Phase II contracts for a total value of $8.6 million.
These awards to universities, small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses and large businesses
were for the development of revolutionary advanced concepts that may have a significant impact on future
aeronautics and space missions. Based on the first 36 months of NIAC’s operation, USRA has received an
"excellent" rating from NASA in all categories of contract performance evaluation.
NIAC continues to encourage competitive proposals that relate to all NASA Enterprises. A strategy for
attracting competitive proposals in all Enterprise areas evolves with each succeeding Phase I Call for
Proposals. NIAC has aggressively targeted visionary and emerging discovery constituencies in the science
and engineering community that may have a technical background to address the challenges of NASA
programs and missions.
Table 1 lists all of the Calls for Proposals that have been issued by NIAC. A total of 337 Phase I and Phase
II proposals have been received by NIAC and have resulted in 62 awards.
CALL # TYPE OF CALL RELEASE DATE DUE DATE AWARD DATE
CP 98-01 Phase I June 19, 1998 July 31, 1998 November 1, 1998
CP 98-02 Phase I November 23, 1998 January 31, 1999 May 1, 1999
CP 99-01 Phase II February 3, 1999 May 31, 1999 August 1, 1999
CP 99-02 Phase II July 27, 1999 January 9, 2000 April 11, 2000
CP 99-03 Phase I September 20, 1999 January 31, 2000 May 1, 2000
CP 00-01 Phase II May 26, 2000 November 30, 2000 March 1, 2001 (est)
CP 00-02 Phase I September 22, 2000 February 18, 2001 (est) May 1, 2001 (est)
Table 1. Summary of NIAC Calls for Proposals To Date
0 10 20 30
46 TOTAL AWARDS
BPR
SS
AST
NIAC PHASE I AWARDS BY NASA
ENTERPRISE
PRIMARY
SECONDARY
0 2 4 6 8
16 TOTAL AWARDS
BPR
SS
AST
NIAC PHASE II AWARDS BY NASA
ENTERPRISE
PRIMARY
SECONDARY
Figure 1. Summary of Phase I and Phase II awards’ relationship to the NASA Enterprises
Figure 1 summarizes the relationship of the number of Phase I and Phase II awards to each of the NASA
Enterprises through the first three years of operation. (BPR = Biology and Physical Research, ES = Earth
Sciences, SS = Space Sciences, HEDS = Human Exploration and Development of Space, AST =
Aerospace Technology). The Earth Sciences Enterprise area has received the lowest number of proposal
responses, and this is reflected in the number of related awards. Other areas within each of the Enterprises
were also targeted for increased emphasis. As a result of an analysis of proposal responses from the first
two Phase I Calls and a recognition of emerging technical discoveries, the Phase I Call issued this year
expressed a special interest in innovative responses related to Earth Sciences, Biology, HEDS, Aeronautics
and Information Technology.
NIAC is open to all research business sectors and as a result, a broad cross-section of the science and
engineering community has responded to the NIAC Calls as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
Third Annual Report - 1

TOTAL PROPOSALS RECEIVED (337)
AS OF 2/1/01
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
UNIVERSITY (128)
HBCU (2)
SDB (20)
SMALL BUSINESS (165)
NATIONAL LABORATORY (3)
LARGE BUSINESS (19)
Figure 2. Proposals received in response to three Phase I Calls for Proposal
TOTAL NUMBER OF AWARDS (62)
AS OF 2/1/01
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
UNIVERSITY (23)
HBCU (1)
SDB (2)
SMALL BUSINESS (31)
NATIONAL LABORATORY (0)
LARGE BUSINESS (5)
Figure 3. Awards to each business category
NIAC continued to reinforce a very productive atmosphere of open communication and feedback from the
science and engineering community at large and from NASA researchers and managers at the Centers and
Headquarters. This process is accomplished through the virtual operation of NIAC over the Internet, by
hosting an annual meeting to showcase the concepts being funded by NIAC, and by conducting a workshop
to inspire response from a broad cross-section of the research community. In addition, the NIAC Science,
Engineering and Technology Council provides focused oversight and dedicated involvement that is
especially supportive of the NIAC operation and future activities.
NIAC conducted Phase II site visits this year with the first set of contractors to complete their first year of
Phase II development, and has successfully begun the process of infusing NIAC funded concepts into
NASA programs for continuation funding.
During the next two years of the NASA contract, NIAC will continue to use the Phase I/Phase II selection
strategy to competitively select advanced concepts with the greatest potential for significant impact. The
technical themes chosen for annual meetings and workshops will give special emphasis to scientific
discoveries and emerging technologies that could be the basis for inspiring interdisciplinary approaches to
major challenges of aeronautics and space.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Summary
During the third year of operation, NIAC continued the processes that had been successfully established to
inspire, select, fund and nurture revolutionary advanced concepts for aeronautics and space. Figure 4
summarizes the performance periods for completed and currently planned awards. The following sections
describe the Calls that were awarded or initiated during the year’s operation.
CY99
Figure 4. Phase I and Phase II Awards Performance Periods
CP99-02 was a Phase II Call for Proposals that was released on July 27, 1999, to each of the Phase I
grantees that had not previously received a Phase II contract. Fifteen proposals were received, thirteen
from the CP 98-02 Fellows and two from the CP98-01 Fellows by the proposal due date of January 9, 2000.
Table 2 summarizes the business categories of the respondents.
BUSINESS CATEGORY CP 99-02 PROPOSALS
Universities 5
Historic Black Colleges & Universities and Minority Institutions 0
Small Disadvantaged Businesses 0
Small Business 9
National Labs 0
Large Business 1
TOTAL PROPOSALS RECEIVED FOR CP 99-02 15
Peer review of these proposals began during the second week of January 2000. Selection and final award
of five contracts was made in April 2000. Table 3 summarizes the winning proposals selected for CP 99-02.
Descriptions of these concepts are available on the NIAC website and in the Appendix.
PI NAME AND ORGANIZATION ADVANCED CONCEPT PROPOSAL TITLE
CASH, WEBSTER
X-Ray Interferometry
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
GRANT, JOHN
THE BOEING CORPORATION
Hypersonic Airplane Space Tether Orbital Launch (HASTOL) Study
MCNUTT, JR., RALPH
THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
A Realistic Interstellar Explorer
NOCK, KERRY
GLOBAL AEROSPACE CORPORATION
Global Constellation of Stratospheric Scientific Platforms
RICE, ERIC
ORBITAL TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Advanced System Concept for Total ISRU-Based Propulsion and Power
Systems for Unmanned and Manned Mars Exploration
CP 98-01 Phase I Grants
CP 99-01 Phase II Contracts
CY98 CY00 CY01 CY02 CY03
JAN-DEC JAN-DEC JAN-DEC JAN-DEC JAN-JUN
JUL-DEC
9801
9802
9901
9902
9903
0001
0002
PHASE I & II AWARDS

NIAC CP 99-03 was released on September 20, 1999, and 104 Phase I proposals were received by the
January 31, 2000 due date. Table 4 summarizes the business category distribution of these 104 proposals.
Universities 33
Small Business 50
National Labs 0
Large Business 11
Peer review began in late January 2000. Grant awards were subsequently made to sixteen proposers in
May 2000. Descriptions of these concepts are available on the NIAC website. The following Table 5
summarizes the winning proposals selected for CP 99-03:
NOCK, KERRY
Cyclical Visits to Mars via Astronaut Hotels System
ENGLAND, CHRISTOPHER
ENGINEERING RESEARCH GROUP
Mars Atmosphere Resource Recovery System (MARRS)
O’HANDLEY, DOUGLAS
ORBITAL TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
System Architecture Development for a Self-Sustaining Lunar Colony
VANECK, THOMAS
PHYSICAL SCIENCES, INC.
A System of Mesoscale Biomimetic Roboswimmers for Exploration and
Search for Life on Europa
BROWN, CHRISTOPHER
DYNAMAC CORPORATION
Programmable Plants: Development of an In Planta System for the Remote
Monitoring and Control of Plant Function for Life Support
COLOZZA, ANTHONY
OHIO AEROSPACE INSTITUTE
Planetary Exploration Using Biomimetics
POWELL, JAMES
PLUS ULTRA TECHNOLOGIES
Development of Self-Sustaining Mars Colonies Utilizing the North Polar Cap
and the Martian Atmosphere
MAISE, GEORGE
PLUS ULTRA TECHNOLOGIES
Exploration of Jovian Atmosphere Using Nuclear Ramjet Flyer
IGNATIEV, ALEX
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
New Architecture for Space Solar Power Systems: Fabrication of Silicon
Solar Cells Using In-Situ Resources
BOSTON, PENELOPE
COMPLEX SYSTEMS RESEARCH, INC.
Scientific Exploration and Human Utilization of Subsurface Extraterrestrial
Environments: A Feasibility Assessment of Strategies, Technologies & Test
Beds
PALISOC, ARTHUR
L’GARDE INC.
Large Telescope Using Holographically Corrected Membranes
VAN BUITEN, CHRIS
SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT INC.
Autonomous VTOL Scalable Logistics Architecture
MACLAY, JORDAN
QUANTUM FIELDS LLC
Feasibility of Communications Using Quantum Correlations
EDWARDS, BRADLEY CARL
EUREKA SCIENTIFIC
The Space Elevator
TYLL, JASON
GASL, INC.
Environmentally-Neutral Aircraft Propulsion Using Low Temperature
Plasmas
MOLNAR, PETER
CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY
Self-Organized Navigation Control for Manned and Unmanned Vehicles in
Space Colonies
Table 5. CP 99-03 Phase I Award Winners

Release of Phase II CP 00-01 on May 26, 2000, resulted in 19 proposals received on November 30, 2000.
Table 6 summarizes the business category distribution of these 19 proposals.
Universities 1
Small Business 16
National Labs 0
Large Business 1
The peer review of this Call commenced shortly after the proposals were received on November 30, 2000.
Five proposals were selected for contracts to begin around March 2001. Descriptions of these concepts are
available on the NIAC website and in the Appendix. A summary of the winners follows in Table 7:
NOCK, KERRY
Cyclical Visits to Mars via Astronaut Hotels System
MAISE, GEORGE
PLUS ULTRA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
KEITH, ANDREW
SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
Methodology for Study of Autonomous VTOL Scalable Logistics Architecture
EDWARDS, BRADLEY CARL
EUREKA SCIENTIFIC
The Space Elevator
COLOZZA, ANTHONY
OHIO AEROSPACE INSTITUTE
This Phase I solicitation was released on September 22, 2000, with a proposal due date of February 18,
2001. The results of this Call will be reported in next year’s annual report.
Phase II Site Visits
All Phase II contracts require that the PI host a site visit during the ninth or tenth month of the first year of
the contract. Site visits were conducted with the following Phase II contractors. NIAC and NASA attendees
are noted in Table 8:
SITE VISIT PI NAME DATES ATTENDEES
MIT DUBOWSKY May 10, 2000 Bob Cassanova and Hal Aldridge (JSC)
Smithsonian Institution
GORENSTEIN May 11, 2000 Bob Cassanova, Jim Bilbro (MSFC) and Will Zhang (GSFC)
Astrophysical
Observatory
Tethers Unlimited HOYT May 25, 2000 Bob Cassanova and Dennis Gallagher (MSFC)
University of
WINGLEE May 26, 2000 Bob Cassanova and Dennis Gallagher (MSFC)
Washington
University of Arizona WOOLF June 22, 2000 Bob Cassanova and Jesse Leitner (GSFC)
Stanford University KROO June 27, 2000 Bob Cassanova, Jerry Malcolm (DFRC), Larry Young (ARC) and Bill
Warmbrodt (ARC)
Table 8. Phase II Site Visits

As part of normal contract management activity, NIAC conducts site visits at all of the Phase II contractors’
locations near the end of the first year of their Phase II contract and before exercising the contract option on
the remainder of the Phase II activity. In addition to the attendance of the NIAC Director, other persons
attending may include Ms. Sharon Garrison (NIAC COTR), NIAC technical consultants and representatives
from NASA HQ and Centers. The purpose of these site visits is to review the status and plans for
development of the advanced concepts and to begin exploring the possibility of follow-on funding after the
Phase II contract. Scheduled site visits for the CP 99-02 Phase II contracts are as follows:
Ralph McNutt, Jr., Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab - January 25
John Grant, Boeing - February 7
Kerry Nock, Global Aerospace Corporation - February 8
Webster Cash, University of Colorado - February 13
Eric Rice, Orbital Technologies Corporation – March 8
Infusion of Advanced Concepts into NASA
The primary purpose of NIAC is to provide leadership to inspire advanced concepts, solicit, select, fund and
nurture advanced concepts that may have significant impact on future NASA missions and programs. After
a concept has been developed and matured through the NIAC process, it is NASA’s intent that the most
promising concept will be transitioned into NASA’s program for additional study and follow-on funding.
NIAC has taken a proactive approach to this infusion process. In addition to the routine activities to
maintain public awareness and visibility for all of the NIAC advanced concepts, NIAC orchestrates the
following activities:
• Conducts status and visibility briefings with NASA researchers and managers
• Invites NASA leaders to Phase II site visits to participate in status and planning discussions
• Provides names of key NASA contacts to NIAC Fellows
• Encourages NIAC Fellows to publish their work in technical society meetings and technical journals
By the end of this contract year, a number of concepts have successfully begun the process of transitioning
back to NASA and some have obtained funding from other sources. Table 9 reports the status of those
concepts that have begun the transition process.
PHASE I
PI Name Concept Title Director Comments
BEKEY A Structureless Extremely Large Yet Very
Lightweight Swarm Array Space Telescope
98-01 Phase I only. Funded by another government agency.
LANDIS Advanced Solar- and Laser-Pushed Lightsail
Concept
98-02 Phase I only. Co-PI funded by JPL for microwave powered
light sail experiment.
IGNATIEV New Architecture for Space Solar Power Systems:
Fabrication of Silicon Solar Cells Using In-Situ
Resources
99-03 Phase I. Awarded Cross-Enterprise contract for related
technology.
PHASE II
DUBOWSKY Self-Transforming Robotic Planetary Explorers 99-01 Phase II. PI feels NASA reception indicates that concept is too
advanced for their current program plans.
GORENSTEIN An Ultra High Throughput X-Ray Astronomy
Observatory with A New Mission Architecture
99-01 Phase II. In touch with MSFC and GSFC. New development in
X-ray interferometry may supercede.
KROO The Mesicopter: A Meso-Scale Flight Vehicle 99-01 Phase II. Strong interest by ARC. Considering follow-on
funding.
WOOLF Very Large Optics for the Study of Extrasolar
Terrestrial Planets
99-01 Phase II. Strong collaboration with MSFC and GSFC. Directly
connected to Life Finder mentioned in OSS Strategic Planning and Decadel
Planning.
HOYT Moon & Mars Orbiting Spinning Tether Transport
Architecture Study
99-01 Phase II. Strong collaboration with MSFC. Funding for momentum
exchange tethers in MSFC plan for 00-02. Recently awarded Cross-Enterprise
subcontract for related technology.
WINGLEE Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion, M2P2 99-01 Phase II. Additional funding awarded for MSFC test program. MSFC
systems analysis underway. Top contender for radiation shielding concept.
Propulsion and radiation shielding concepts briefed to Goldin and Decadel
Planning. Budget allocated for follow-on tests and systems analysis.
CASH X-Ray Interferometry 99-02 Phase II. Strong collaboration with GSFC. Directly connected with
MAXIM mentioned in OSS Strategic Planning and Decadel Planning process.
GRANT Hypersonic Airplane Space Tether Orbital Launch
(HASTOL) Study
99-02 Phase II. Directly associated with Hoyt concept development.
McNUTT, JR. A Realistic Interstellar Explorer 99-02 Phase II. Connected to potential follow-on to JPL Interstellar Mission.
PI on JPL working group. Awarded Cross-Enterprise contract for related
technology.
RICE Advanced System Concept for Total ISRU-Based
Propulsion & Power Systems for Unmanned and
Manned Mars Exploration
99-02 Phase II. In communication with JSC.
NOCK Global Constellation of Stratospheric Scientific
Platforms
99-02 Phase II. In communication with GSFC and Wallops. Awarded
SBIR contract in related subsystem.
Table 9: Status of Infusion of Concepts into NASA

Coordination with NASA
Sharon M. Garrison is the NASA Coordinator for the NIAC in the Aerospace Technology Office (ATO) of the
NASA Technology Integration Division (NTID) at GSFC. She is the primary point of contact between NIAC
and NASA. Ms. Garrison actively communicates throughout NASA to a review team comprised of
representatives from the Enterprises, Centers and Office of the Chief Technologist. Table 10 is a listing of
these representatives. Throughout the process of managing NIAC, these representatives have been kept
informed via Ms. Garrison of the status of the Institute and have been appropriately involved in decisions
and feedback. The NIAC provides monthly contract status reports and an Annual Report to the NASA
Coordinator who forwards the reports to the Support Team and others within NASA.
NASA COTR
NASA Office of the
Chief Technologist NASA Enterprises Centers
Sharon Garrison, GSFC Murray Hirschbein, R John Mankins, M
Karl Loutinsky, R
Glenn Mucklow, S
Alex Pline, U
Gordon Johnston, Y
Larry Lasher, ARC
Steve Whitmore, DFRC
Daniel Glover, GRC
Dennis Andrucyk, GSFC
Art Murphy, JPL
Ken Cox, JSC
Gale Allen, KSC
Dennis Bushnell, LaRC
John Cole, MSFC
Bill St. Cyr, SSC
Table 10. NASA NIAC Support Team
Very early in the start-up process of the Institute, Dr. Cassanova and Ms. Garrison visited NASA Associate
Administrators of the Strategic Enterprises and Center Directors to brief them on the plans for NIAC and to
seek their active support and feedback. During the second year of NIAC’s operation, Dr. Cassanova
revisited all the Centers to update the status of the NIAC and to conduct technical discussions with Center
staff. Visits during the third year were targeted to achieve specific communication with NASA managers and
technical staff related to current and future NIAC concepts. Visits to NASA organizations during the third
year are listed in Table 11. Visits to NASA Headquarters included meetings with Associate Administrators,
Theme Managers and other senior staff.
NASA
Dates of Visits Purpose of Visits
Organization
Headquarters March 7, 2000 Participate in the Space Science Technology Management and Operations
Working Group
GSFC April 3, 2000 Director met with GSFC coordinator of Engineering Colloquia Series to discuss
NIAC Fellow presentations at future colloquia
Headquarters April 3-4, 2000 Coordination with Offices of Space Sciences, Earth Sciences and Human
Exploration and Development of Space
Headquarters May 12, 2000 Coordination with Offices of Space Sciences, Human Exploration and Development
of Space, and Aeronautics Technology
JSC October 23-24, 2000 Coordination with JSC and to present NIAC Status Overview
MSFC November 3, 2000 Coordination with MSFC Integrated Technology Assessment Center program
representatives at NIAC
Headquarters December 4, 2000 Director met with Earth Sciences Enterprise representative at NIAC
Headquarters January 24, 2001 Coordination with Biology and Physical Research Enterprise
LaRC January 25, 2001 Coordination with NASA LaRC Revolutionary Advanced Systems Concepts
program representatives
Table 11. NASA Visits
In addition to the periodic coordination visits to Headquarters and the Centers, the NIAC Director has been
invited to participate in a number of planning and oversight groups organized by NASA. Currently, the NIAC
Director is a member of the Space Science Technology Management and Operations Working Group
(SSTMOWG) that meets approximately every three months.

Second NIAC Annual Meeting
The Second NIAC Annual Meeting was held at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in the Building 3
Auditorium on June 6-7, 2000. There were 166 pre-registered guests, and 110 actually attended. The
meeting activities included an informal reception on the evening of June 6th. All currently funded Phase I
and Phase II NIAC Fellows gave an overview of their advanced concepts and responded to questions and
comments from the audience. The audience included a broad cross-section of the research community
(NASA Centers, small and large businesses, and universities) and students from the science and
technology programs of high schools in proximity to GSFC.
NIAC Workshop
“Innovation at the Interface of Scientific Disciplines: Redefining the Possibilities in Aeronautics and Space”
was the theme of the workshop which was held November 7-8, 2000 in Atlanta. The primary purpose of the
workshop was to inspire innovative and visionary ideas from the scientific disciplines that are not normally
focused on aerospace challenges. New visions of the possible or challenges of the seemingly impossible
emerging from the NIAC workshop may serve to inspire innovative, revolutionary concepts at the interface
of traditional scientific disciplines.
The workshop included keynote speakers to provide a general overview of selected areas and workshop
sessions focused on specific areas of emphasis. Workshop sessions included panels of established
researchers to assist in catalyzing vigorous discussions. The sessions were designed to promote a
vigorous, unbiased forum for interchange of ideas, concepts, perspectives of emerging technologies,
challenges of aerospace endeavors and visions of emerging possibilities.
The workshop keynote speakers were:
Mr. Gentry Lee, Aerospace Consultant and Author
Discoveries at the Interface of Scientific Disciplines
Dr. George Donohue, George Mason University
Air Transportation is a Complex, Adaptive System, Not an Airplane
Dr. Kenneth Nealson, California Institute of Technology
Things We Thought Couldn’t Exist and Where They Lead Us
Dr. Mark Abbott, Oregon State University
Earth Science and Technology – Challenges and Opportunities in 2020
Dr. Kathryn Clark, Chief Scientist for HEDS, NASA Headquarters
Exploring the Cosmos, Getting There from Here
Breakout sessions were conducted on the following topics:
• Air and Space Transportation
• Earth Sciences
• Life Sciences and Biology
Presentations by keynote speakers and panelists, if available electronically, are now posted on the NIAC
website. A short summary of the recommendations from the workshop sessions and the attendee list are
also posted.

Participation in Technical Society Meetings, Workshops and National Research
Council Boards
In order to expand and maintain NIAC’s visibility, NIAC was represented at technical society meetings,
technical workshops and at one of the National Research Council Boards as summarized in Table 12.
MEETING DATES SPONSOR NIAC FUNCTION
National Research Council Space
March 7, 2000 NRC Director gave status briefing
Studies Board
Turning Goals into Reality May 18-19, 2000 NASA Director attended
Workshop on Concepts and
Approaches for the Robotic
Exploration of Mars
July 18-20, 2000 NASA ANSER represented NIAC
HEDS Technology/Commercialization
Workshop
July 21 – August 2, 2000 NASA KSC NIAC Overview presented
by Ken Cox
Radiation Shielding Workshop September 18-19, 2000 NASA MSFC Director participated in
advanced planning for radiation
shielding
Seminar at the Institute for Paper
Science and Technology
October 6, 2000 Institute for Paper Science
and Technology
Director gave NIAC
Overview
Space and Astronomy Day at
NASA GSFC
October 21, 2000 NASA GSFC ANSER representative
participated and gave paper
Fall Meeting of the Aerospace
Technology Working Group
November 14-16, 2000 NASA KSC and LaRC Director gave NIAC
overview
Earth Sciences Technology
Workshop
January 23-24, 2001 NASA Director attended
Table 12. NIAC Participation in Technical Meetings
Public Relations
In addition to the ongoing publicity through the NIAC website, NIAC activities have been the subject of
articles in publications serving the general public and the technical community.
Several articles about NIAC and its sponsored advanced concepts were published in June and July:
• Introducing the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, by Dr. Robert A. Cassanova, Newsletter of the American
Society for Gravitational and Space Biology, Spring, 2000. http://www.asgsb.org
• Resurrecting the Vision, by Dr. Jerry Grey, Spacenews.com, July 10, 2000. http://spacenews.com
• Stranger than Fiction, by Sanjida O’Connell, The Guardian, July 27, 2000. http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/
A news article entitled “One Giant Leap for Lunar Cells” appears in the August 2000 issue of PHOTON
International – The Photovoltaic magazine describing the NIAC funded Phase I activities at the University of
Houston. The University of Houston Phase I project, “New Architecture for Space Power Systems:
Fabrication of Silicon Solar Cells Using In-Situ Resources”, is led by Drs. Alex Ignatiev and Alex Freundich.
Dr. Webster Cash, a Phase II Fellow at the University of Colorado, gave an invited talk on x-ray
interferometry at the XXIVth General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in Manchester
UK. Dr. Nick Woolf, Phase II Fellow at the University of Arizona, also gave a presentation. The IAU
meeting took place August 7-18.
Dr. Cassanova was contacted by Trish Mitchell of the Discovery Channel who is preparing a program for
next year on the general subject of “2001: A Space Odyssey” based on the book by Sir Arthur C. Clarke.
She is considering using some of the NIAC concepts as examples of the idea whereas, at one time would
have been considered science fiction, are now closer to reality. She was given contact information for some
of the NIAC Fellows and other persons who have worked with NIAC.
The concept being developed by Alex Ignatiev, Phase I Fellow, was described in an article in PHOTON
International, The Photovoltaic magazine in the August, 2000 issue, pp. 6-7.

On September 13, 2000, an article entitled “New X-Ray Telescope Technology Propels Virtual Journey to
Black Hole” appeared on the NASE website, NASA News. NIAC Fellow, Dr. Webster Cash at the University
of Colorado, is currently developing this concept. A related article was published in the September 14 issue
of Nature authored by Dr. Cash and several co-authors.
Dr. Robert Hoyt, Phase II Fellow, and Dr. Robert L. Forward, Tethers Unlimited Incorporated (TUI) Chief
Scientist, participated in the Tether Technology Workshop at the AFRL in Kirtland AFB, New Mexico on
September 6-7. Dr. Forward briefed the workshop on TUI's progress on momentum-exchange tether
technologies, while Dr. Hoyt summarized TUI's work on small electrodynamic tether systems.
John E. Grant, Phase II Fellow, presented a description of the NIAC advanced concept, Hypersonic Airplane
Space Tether Orbital Launch (HASTOL), at the AIAA Space 2000 Conference in Long Beach, California, on
September 21. The paper is included in a session chaired by Mr. Gary Lyles from NASA Marshall Space
Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama.
On October 4, 2000, an article entitled “Hitching a Ride on a Magnetic Bubble” was published on the NASA
website, Science@NASA. The subject of the article is the M2P2 concept being developed by NIAC Fellow,
Dr. Robert Winglee at the University of Washington. Dr. Winglee and Dr. Dennis Gallagher at MSFC have
just completed a test program in one of the vacuum chambers at MSFC.
On October 11, 2000, an article by Gentry Lee entitled “Concepts for the Future” appeared on the
Space.com website. The article described several NIAC funded concepts that have captured the
imagination of the scientific community. The article contains the following statement:
“The outstanding early accomplishments of NIAC are a tribute both to the helmsmanship of
the Institute's director, Dr. Bob Cassanova, and to the vision of the top NASA executives
who conceived the idea for an independent institute of advanced concepts in the first place."
The American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology held a joint scientific meeting with the Canadian
Space Agency and the European Low Gravity Research Association on October 25-28 in Montreal, Canada.
The ASGSB newsletter distributed at the meeting contained an article about NIAC that mentioned the
release of the Phase I Call for Proposals, CP00-02 and the upcoming NIAC workshop in Atlanta.
The December 2000 issue of AIAA Aerospace America, pp. 54-55, mentions several projects funded by
NIAC. The article was written by George Schmidt, MSFC, who had received input from NIAC. NIAC
concepts mentioned were:
• Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion, University of Washington
• A Realistic Interstellar Explorer, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab
• Moon and Mars Orbiting Spinning Tether Transport, Tethers Unlimited
• Hypersonic Airplane Space Tether Orbital Launch, Boeing
• Advanced System Concept for Total ISRU-Based Propulsion & Poser Systems for Unmanned and Manned Mars
Exploration, Orbital Technologies Corporation
• Microwave Propelled Lightsail which is based on the Phase I work by Geoffrey Landis at the Ohio Aerospace
Institute on the concept of Advanced Solar and Laser Lightsail Concepts. Dr. Landis is now a member of the
research staff at NASA GRC.
The December 2nd issue of the New Scientist (pages 32-35) contains an article about the NIAC sponsored
concept, the Nuclear Ramjet Flyer, being developed by James Powell and George Maise at Plus Ultra.
There was an article written about the Phase I “Programmable Plants” concept being developed by Chris
Brown appearing in the December 9 issue of New Scientist. The text for the article can be found at
http://www.newscientist.com/features/features_226846.html.
Sir Clarke wrote an article that was published in the January 2001 issue of Playboy in which reference is
made to NIAC:
“And sooner or later the noisy and inefficient rocket will be superseded by something better.
NASA’s recently established Institute for Advanced Concepts is looking at a whole range of
future possibilities — even the fabled “space drive” beloved by science fiction writers.
Perhaps the rocket will play the same role in space that the balloon did in the air.”

A representative from Italian Public TV asked Dr. Cassanova for an interview for a special program on the
subject of space travel in 2001, commemorating Sir Arthur C. Clarke’s book “2001: A Space Odyssey”.
The interview is planned for early February, 2001.
Inputs to NASA Technology Inventory Database
NIAC provides input to the NASA Technology Inventory Database immediately after awards for Phase I or
Phase II concepts are announced. The public version of this database, which is maintained by NASA
GSFC, is available at http://technology.gsfc.nasa.gov/technology/.
Financial Performance
NIAC strives to minimize its operational expenses in order to devote maximum funds to viable advanced
concepts. For the third straight year, this objective has been met as evidenced in Figure 5. Calendar year
three actual results indicate 81.5% of NIAC’s total budget was devoted to advanced concept research. The
ambitious goal in the NIAC contract of 81% has been achieved in all three contract years. No doubt this
trend will continue with the obligation of funds for CP 00-01 and CP 00-02 in the first and second quarter of
calendar year four.
Funds to Research as Percentage of Total NIAC Budget
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Calendar Years
Negotiated
Actual
Figure 5. Funds to Research as Percentage of Total NIAC Budget
Note: Actual percentages are determined by dividing total annual research obligations by the sum of total actual annual NIAC
operations expenses and total annual research obligations. Actual research award amounts reflect obligations through CP99-03.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NIAC
Mission
The NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) has been formed for the explicit purpose of being an
independent source of revolutionary aeronautical and space concepts that could dramatically impact how
NASA develops and conducts its mission. The Institute is to provide highly visible, recognized and high-level
entry point for outside thinkers and researchers. The ultimate goal of NIAC is to infuse NIAC funded
advanced concepts into future NASA plans and programs. The Institute functions as a virtual institute and
uses resources of the Internet whenever productive and efficient for communication with grant recipients,
NASA, and the science and engineering community.
Technology
Enablers to construct the system: Devices, subsystems and components, design techniques, analysis and modeling
Generally associated with engineering and scientific disciplines (e.g., aerodynamics, materials, structures, electronics,
sensors, chemistry, combustion, plasma dynamics, etc.)
Figure 6. NIAC Mission
Figure 6 illustrates the mission of NIAC relative to the NASA plans and programs and the ongoing
technology development efforts. The purpose of NIAC is to provide an independent, open forum for the
external analysis and definition of space and aeronautics advanced concepts to complement the advanced
concepts activities conducted within the NASA Enterprises. The NIAC has advanced concepts as its sole
focus. It focuses on revolutionary concepts - specifically systems and architectures - that can have a major
impact on missions of the NASA Enterprises in the time frame of 10 to 40 years in the future. It generates
ideas for how the current NASA Agenda can be done better; it expands our vision of future possibilities.
The scope of the NIAC is based on the National Space Policy, the NASA Strategic Plan, the NASA
Enterprise Strategic Plans and future mission plans of the NASA Enterprises, but it is bounded only by the
horizons of human imagination.
Now
10
years
20
years
30
years
40
years
NASA
Plans & Programs
NASA Enterprises
• Aerospace Technology
• Space Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Human Exploration
• & Development of Space
• Biological & Physical Research
NIAC MISSION
Revolutionary Advanced Concepts
Architectures
• Overall plan to accomplish a goal
• A suite of systems, and their operational methods and
interrelationships, capable of meeting an overall mission
or program objective.
Systems
• The physical embodiment of the architecture
• A suite of equipment, software, and operations
methods capable of accomplishing an operational
objective.

Organization
The NIAC organization is illustrated below in Figure 7. As an Institute of the Universities Space Research
Association (USRA), NIAC reports to the President of USRA.
USRA President
Board of Trustees
NIAC Director
Dr. Robert A. Cassanova
Business Manager
Dale K. Little
Administration
Brandy-Brooke Egan
Computer Support
Robert J. Mitchell
Figure 7. NIAC Organization
The NIAC staff is located at the NIAC HQ office in Atlanta, Georgia, and consists of its director, business
manager and administrative assistant. An additional staff member was added by ANSER in March 1999 to
provide full-time computer network and software application support at NIAC HQ.
Recipients of NIAC grant or contract awards are designated as “NIAC Fellows.”
ANSER, through a subcontract from the USRA/NIAC, provides program support, technical support and
information technology support for NIAC’s operation. ANSER actively participated in NIAC program reviews
and planning sessions, proposal peer reviews, source selection activities, and concurrence meetings.
ANSER is responsible for maintaining an understanding of ongoing funded studies and the relationship of
these studies to other work underway or previously considered by the aerospace community. To meet this
challenge, ANSER reviews aerospace technology databases, conducts on-line data searches, and
completes short assessments as needed to identify the status of technologies related to proposed and
ongoing studies. This information is used in direct support of the peer review and selection processes as
well as the management function of conducting site visits. To help maintain an understanding of the
relevance of potential studies to current and potential NASA enterprises and understanding the relevance of
potential studies to current and potential NASA Enterprises and Missions, ANSER attends NIAC meetings
with NASA Associate Administrators. ANSER periodically reviews the NIAC website technical content. The
periodic review of the website ensured the integrity and timeliness of the posted data and provided an
opportunity to add interesting links to related sites maintained by NASA and the aerospace community.
USRA
Corporate
Resources
NIAC Science,
Exploration and
Technology Council
ANSER
Dr. Ron Turner NIAC
Research Fellows
NIAC
Program Office

As a corporate expense, USRA formed the NIAC Science, Exploration and Technology Council to oversee
the operation of NIAC on behalf of the relevant scientific and engineering community. The Council is
composed of a diverse group of thinkers, eminent in their respective fields and representing a broad cross-section
of technologies related to the NASA Charter. The Council has a rotating membership with each
member serving a three-year term. The USRA Board of Trustees appoints council members.
The current membership of the NIAC Science, Exploration and Technology Council is as follows:
Dr. Burton Edelson, George Washington University (Convener)
Dr. David Black, Lunar and Planetary Institute
Dr. Jerry Grey, Aerospace Consultant
Mr. Gentry Lee, Aerospace Consultant and Author
Dr. Lynn Margulis, University of Massachusetts
Dr. Mark Abbott, Oregon State University
Dr. Taylor Wang, Vanderbilt University
Dr. Peter M.Banks, University of Michigan
Dr. George L. Donohue, George Mason University
Dr. John V. Evans, COMSAT Corporation
Dr. Robert E. Whitehead, Aerospace Consultant
Dr. Robert A. Cassanova, NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (ex officio)
Dr. David Black was recently named President of USRA, and will be replaced in March 2001.
Facilities
NIAC Headquarters is centrally located in midtown Atlanta, Georgia. It occupies 2,000 square feet of
professional office space, with access to two conference rooms onsite as well as a 75-seat auditorium. The
staff is linked via a Windows NT based Local Area Network (LAN) consisting of 5 Pentium II PCs, one
Macintosh G3 and two Unix servers. Internet access is provided via a fiber-optic link through the Georgia
Tech network. Other equipment includes a flat-bed scanner, an HP Color LaserJet 5 printer, an HP
LaserJet 4000TN printer, an HP LaserJet 3100 fax machine and a Canon NP6050 copier.
The servers use RedHat Linux for their operating systems, Apache for the web server, Sendmail for the
email server, Sybase SQL Server for the database, and OpenSSL for web and email security. The
workstations use Windows 2000 for their operating systems, Microsoft Office 2000 Professional for office
applications, Netscape Communicator for email access, and Adobe Acrobat for distributed documents.
Virtual Institute
NIAC envisions progressive use of the Internet as a key element in its operation. The Internet is the primary
vehicle to link the NIAC office with grantees, NASA points of contact, and other members of the science and
engineering community. The Internet will be the primary communication link for publicizing NIAC,
announcing the availability of Calls for Proposals, receiving proposals and reporting on technical status. All
proposals submitted to NIAC must be in electronic format. All monthly reports from the grantees to NIAC
and from NIAC to NASA are submitted electronically. The peer review of proposals is also conducted
electronically whenever the peer reviewer has the necessary Internet connectivity and application software.
ANSER created and maintains the NIAC website at http://www.niac.usra.edu, which serves as the focal
point of NIAC to the outside world. The website can be accessed to retrieve and submit NIAC information
and proposals. The NIAC website is linked from the NASA Technology Integration Division (NTID) website
at http://ntpio.nasa.gov as well as the NASA Research Opportunities website at
http://www.nasa.gov/research.html, the Office of Earth Science Research Opportunities at
http://www.earth.nasa.gov/nra/current/index.html and the Small Business Innovative Research program,
http://sbir.nasa.gov. Numerous other links to the NIAC website are now established from NASA Centers
and science and engineering websites. The visibility of NIAC has improved to the point that their website
has been receiving almost 90 hits per day. Between January 31, 2000, and February 1, 2001 the NIAC
website has logged 18,880 connections. Figure 8 depicts the site map of the NIAC website.

Figure 8. Site Map of the NIAC Website, http://www.niac.usra.edu.
The NIAC web page has undergone a marked change since last year’s Annual Report. The implementation
of Java Server Pages has allowed the dynamic production of certain web pages. This is most evident in the
Funded Studies section and the Mailing List section.”
The number of hits by Internet users has increased to approximately ninety per day, confirming that NIAC
has continued to grow in popularity.
What’s New
What’s New contains news about NIAC. There is also a link
to the latest Commerce Business Daily release pertaining to
NIAC.
The Institute
The Institute contains information about NIAC including a list
of the NIAC Science, Exploration and Technology Council
members, Purpose, Method, Goal, and Contact information.
There is a link to an organizational chart of NIAC, also.

Funded Studies
Funded Studies provides information about each Principal
Investigator and project that NIAC has funded. There are
links to various documents including an abstract of each of
the proposals, presentations and Final Reports.
Call for Proposals
Call for Proposals is a link to the current Call for Proposals.
There is a link to the Questions & Answers section provided
also.
Library
The library contains an archive of previous Calls for
Proposals, NIAC Annual Reports and other miscellaneous
documents. There are links to view the proceedings of
Fellows meetings and various workshops in this section as
well.
Links
Links to other sites are provided in this section.
Mailing List
NIAC provides a mailing list where people can receive the
latest Call for Proposals via Email. An individual is allowed
the capability to add, edit and/or delete his/her own entry in
this section.
Feedback
Feedback provides users the opportunity to ask questions
about NIAC. Questions and answers pertaining to the
current Call for Proposals may be viewed in this section.

Communication and Outreach to the Science and Engineering Community
In addition to the continuous, open communication provided through the NIAC website, NIAC uses a variety
of methods to provide information to NASA and the research community and to receive feedback. Active
and aggressive coordination with NASA HQ and the Centers is an important element in maintaining the flow
of feedback to NIAC concerning the eventual infusion of NIAC-developed concepts back to NASA programs.
Likewise, open exchange of information with the science and engineering community is critical to creating
the atmosphere to inspire revolutionary concepts and to provide an open review of funded concepts by
peers.

ADVANCED CONCEPT SELECTION PROCESS
Publicity
Publicity regarding the availability of a NIAC Phase I Call for Proposals is provided to the community
through:
• Publication of an announcement in the Commerce Business Daily
• Notices sent to a NIAC email distribution list generated from responses by persons who signed up on
the NIAC web site to receive the Call
• Announcements on professional society web sites or newsletters (American Institute for Aeronautics
and Astronautics, American Astronautical Society and the American Astronomical Society)
• Announcements on the USRA and NIAC web sites
• NASA GSFC News Release
• Web links from NASA Enterprise web pages
• Web link from the NASA Coordinator’s web page
• Announcements to a distribution list for Historical Black Colleges & Universities, Minority Institutions and
Small Disadvantaged Businesses provided by NASA
• Distribution of announcements to an Earth Sciences list provided by NASA GSFC
• Announcements distributed at technical society meetings
Since Phase II awards are based on a down select from Phase I winners, all Phase II Call for Proposals are
emailed directly to past Phase I winners who have not previously received a Phase II contract.
Solicitation
The actual solicitation for advanced concepts is assembled and published by the NIAC staff. Since the
technical scope of the solicitation is as broad as the NASA Mission, the solicitation wording emphasizes the
desire for revolutionary advanced concepts that address all elements of the NASA Mission. This is
particularly true for Phase I solicitations.
The scope of work is written to inspire proposals in all NASA Mission areas and contains brief descriptions
of NASA Enterprise areas of emphases. In general, proposed advanced concepts should be:
• Revolutionary, new and not duplicative of previously studied concepts
• An architecture or system
• Described in a mission context
• Adequately substantiated with a description of the scientific principles that form the basis for the concept
• Largely independent of existing technology or unique combination of systems and technologies
The evaluation criteria are structured to convey what is being sought and are summarized in Figure 9.
PHASE I
6 months
$50 - $75K
PHASE II
Up to 24 months
Up to $500K
• Is the concept revolutionary rather than evolutionary? To what
extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative
and original concepts?
• Is the concept for an architecture or system, and have the
benefits been qualified in the context of a future NASA mission?
• Is the concept substantiated with a description of applicable
scientific and technical disciplines necessary for development?
• Does the proposal continue the development of a revolutionary
architecture or system in the context of a future NASA mission?
Is the proposed work likely to provide a sound basis for NASA to
consider the concept for a future mission or program?
• Is the concept substantiated with a description of applicable
scientific and technical disciplines necessary for development?
• Have enabling technologies been identified, and has a pathway
for development of a technology roadmap been adequately
described?
• Has the pathway for development of a cost of the concept been
adequately described, and are costing assumptions realistic?
Have potential performance and cost benefits been quantified?
Figure 9. NIAC Proposal Evaluation Criteria
A NIAC Call for Proposal is distributed in electronic form only. At the present time, solicitation for one Phase
I and one Phase II is prepared and released every calendar year. These releases occur generally in the
latter half of the calendar year.

Proposals
All proposals must be submitted electronically to the NIAC in .pdf format in order to be considered for
award. Technical proposals in response to Phase I Call for Proposals are limited to 12 pages. Phase II
technical proposals are limited to 25 pages. Cost proposals have no page limit.
Phase II proposals are only accepted from authors who have previously received a Phase I award and have
not previously received a Phase II follow-on contract. The due date is the same for the Phase II proposal
and the associated Phase I final report. Phase I Fellows may submit a Phase II at any time after completion
of their Phase I grant, but it must be received by NIAC by the designated due date in order to be considered
in a particular review cycle.
Peer Review
NIAC peer reviewers represent a cross-section of senior research executives in private industry, senior
research faculty in universities, specialized researchers in both industry and universities, and aerospace
consultants.
Each reviewer is required to sign a non-disclosure and no-conflict-of-interest agreement prior to their
involvement. A small monetary compensation is offered to each reviewer. The technical proposals and all
required forms are transmitted to the reviewer over the Internet, by diskette or by paper copy, depending on
the electronic capabilities of each reviewer. Reviewers are given approximately thirty days to review the
technical proposals and return their completed evaluation forms.
Each proposal receives at least three independent peer reviews. Each reviewer evaluates a proposal
according to the criterion stated in the Call for Proposals. Templates/forms are created to help guide the
reviewer through the process of assigning a numerical ranking and providing written comments.
Only NIAC and USRA staff analyze cost proposals.
The ANSER Corporation provided valuable assistance to the peer review process through a search of its
archives, knowledge bases and additional resources. These information databases were used to provide
additional background on prior and ongoing advanced concept research efforts sponsored by NASA and
non-NASA sources. To help assure that a proposed concept is not duplicating previous studied concepts,
NIAC accesses the NASA Technology Inventory Database and searches for related NASA funded projects.
Results of the peer reviews are compiled by NIAC, rank-ordered by a review panel and prepared for
presentation to NASA in a concurrence briefing.
NASA Concurrence
The NIAC Director is required to present the apparent research selections to the NASA Chief Technologist
and representatives of the NASA Strategic Enterprises before the announcement of awards. Technical
concurrence by NASA, required before any subgrants or subcontracts are announced or awarded, is
obtained to assure consistency with NASA’s Charter and that the concept is not duplicating concepts
previously, or currently being, developed by NASA.
Awards
Based on the results of the NIAC peer review, technical concurrence from NASA’s Office of the Chief
Technologist and the availability of funding, the award decision is made by the NIAC Director. All proposal
authors are notified electronically of the acceptance or rejection of their proposal. If requested, feedback
based on the peer review evaluator’s comments is provided to the non-selected proposers.
The USRA contracts office then begins processing contractual instruments to each of the winning
organizations. Also, the NIAC staff inputs all the pertinent technical information regarding the winning
proposals into the NASA Technology Inventory Database, as well as the NIAC website.
The “product” of each award is a final report. All final reports are posted on the NIAC website for public
viewing.

CONTRACT MANAGEMENT
With each new advanced concept award, contract management increases not only in importance but also in
the time devoted to it by the NIAC. The major contract management tools used by NIAC are monthly
reports and site visits.
Reports
Monthly reports are used by NIAC to monitor technical and management progress of each selected
program. They are contractually required in both Phase I and Phase II subgrants and subcontracts. These
reports are for the exclusive management use of NIAC and are not publicly disseminated.
Final reports in .pdf electronic format are required within 30 days of completion of the subgrant or
subcontract and are posted on the NIAC website within a few days of receipt.
Phase II contractors are required to submit an interim report during the 12th month of the first year of their
contract.
Site Visits
Phase II contracts are structured with a one-year contract plus an option for the remaining performance
period. Each Phase II contractor is required to host a site visit by the NIAC Director and other technical
experts during the 9th or 10th month of the first year of their contract. Site visits are used to measure
program progress on a first-hand basis for Phase II awards. These visits are a particularly valuable
management tool to the NIAC Director in determining the overall status and operating environment of a
particular program at a given point in time. Site visits are conducted by the NIAC Director who will be
accompanied by experts in related technical fields and by NASA representatives who may want to consider
follow-on funding directly from NASA. Site visits are scheduled prior to the exercise of any subcontract
option.

PLANS FOR THE FOURTH YEAR AND BEYOND
During the next two years of the NASA contract, NIAC will build on the operational framework established in
the first three years to broaden the constituency of innovators responding to NIAC initiatives and to expand
the participation of scientists and engineers from outside of the normal aerospace disciplines. NIAC will
continue to improve the Phase I/Phase II selection strategy to inspire and competitively select revolutionary
advanced concepts with the greatest potential for significant impact. To reinforce an atmosphere of
revolutionary and innovative, but technically credible thinking, the technical themes chosen for annual
meetings and workshops will give special emphasis to scientific discoveries and emerging technologies that
could be the bases for innovative, interdisciplinary architectures and systems aimed at the major challenges
of aeronautics and space.
The activities planned for the fourth and fifth years will build on NIAC’s leadership position to inspire, select
and fund revolutionary advanced concepts and to orchestrate the transition of successful concepts into
consideration by NASA for long range development. Figure 10 summarizes the major activities planned for
the fourth and fifth contract years.
Key Activities CY 2001 CY 2002 CY 2003
Figure 10. Key Activities during the Third Contract Year
Advanced Concept Solicitation, Selection and Award
The peer review, selection, concurrence by NASA and award based on proposals received in response to
Phase II Call CP 00-01 and Phase I Call CP 00-02 will be completed in the first quarter of the fourth contract
year. Grant and contract start dates are anticipated in March and May 2001, respectively.
The next Phase II Call for Proposals, CP 01-01, will be sent to the PIs selected for CP 00-02 within the first
two months of their Phase I grant. Phase II proposals received for CP 01-01 will be peer reviewed and
awarded in 2002. The next Phase I Call for Proposals, CP 01-02 will be released Fall 2001 and the peer
review and award will occur in 2002. Additional releases of Phase I and Phase II Calls will follow in 2002
based on the assumption of a follow-on contract to continue the NIAC operation. No awards will be made
that would extend past the current NIAC contract performance period, ending February 9, 2003.
CP99-01 Phase II Contracts Continuation
CP99-02 Phase II Contracts Continuation
Site Visits for CP99-02 Contracts
CP00-01 Phase II Contracts
Site Visits for CP00-01 Contracts
Peer Review and Award, Phase I CP00-02
CP00-02 Phase I Grants
Release Phase II CP01-01
Peer Review and Award, Phase II CP01-01
CP01-01 Phase II Contracts
Sites Visits for CP01-01 Contracts
Release Phase I CP01-02
Peer Review and Award, Phase I CP01-02
CP01-02 Phase I Grants
Release Phase II CP02-01
Peer Review and Award, CP 02-01
Release Phase I CP02-02
NIAC Workshops
NIAC Annual Meeting
Completion of Current NIAC Contract
J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J
Activities under current NIAC contract Activities under follow-on NIAC contract

Publication of the Calls and distribution of general information about the NIAC will be achieved over the NIAC
website. Direct web links from technical societies and NASA web pages will continue as the method to notify
the community about NIAC. In addition, the NIAC distribution list and distribution lists provided by NASA will
be used to notify interested persons about NIAC research opportunities.
Management of Awards
NIAC will continue to require all grant and contract recipients to submit monthly and final reports. In
addition, all Phase II contractors will be required to submit an annual report at the completion of their first
year of funded activity.
All Phase II contractors will be required to host a site visit and to submit an annual report before the end of
their first contract year. Site visits are tentatively scheduled during January and February 2001 for the CP
99-02 awards, and during November 2001 for the CP 00-01 awards. Participants in the site visits will
include the NIAC Director, experts in the technical field of the concept, and NASA representatives key to the
eventual transition to long range NASA funding.
Communication with NASA, Other Federal Agencies and the Research Community
Since NIAC is a virtual institute, NIAC’s principle method of communication with the technical community will
be through the NIAC website. In addition, NIAC will utilize the NASA Technology Inventory Database to
distribute information about NIAC projects.
In addition to contractually required reports to NASA, the NIAC Director will sustain a flow of information to
the technical and management levels of NASA. These activities will encompass appropriate status reports
and overviews plus technical meetings in specialized technical areas. In general, the visits to the NASA
Centers and JPL will include meetings with the Center Director, top management staff and technical groups
related to current and future NIAC areas of emphasis. Visits to NASA HQ will be with Associate
Administrators, Enterprise Representatives, Technical Theme Managers, the Chief Technologist and the
Chief Scientist.
The third NIAC Annual Meeting is scheduled for June 5-6, 2001 at NASA Ames Research Center, and will
showcase the current grants and contracts. One or more focused workshops may be conducted during the
late summer and early Fall 2001 and 2002, if it is felt that the workshop would result in additional new and
innovative proposals in response to the next Phase I Call.
Oversight by USRA Management
The NIAC Science, Exploration and Technology Council will meet to receive an overview of the status and
plans of NIAC on the day following each of the scheduled annual meetings and the workshops. The Council
will issue a report to USRA management and NASA on NIAC’s operation and will offer suggestions for
future activities.

APPENDIX
Descriptions of the Phase II Awards
during the first three years of operation

Call for Proposals 99-01
Abstracts and Graphics
Third Annal Report - 24

Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion
ROBERT M. WINGLEE
University of Washington
The Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion, M2P2, system provides a revolutionary means for
spacecraft propulsion that can efficiently utilize the energy from space plasmas to accelerate
payloads to much higher speeds than can be attained by present chemical oxidizing propulsion
systems. The system utilizes an innovative configuration of existing technology based on well-established
principles of plasma physics. It has the potential of feasibly providing cheap, fast
propulsion that could power Interstellar Probe, as well as powering payloads that would be
required for a manned mission to Mars. As such, the proposed work is for missions out of the
solar system and between the planets.
The project is interdisciplinary involving space science, plasma engineering and aeronautics and
space transportation, which are key components of NIAC’s program. The M2P2 system utilizes
low energy plasma to transport or inflate a magnetic field beyond the typical scale lengths that can
be supported by a standard solenoid magnetic field coil. In space, the inflated magnetic field can
be used to reflect high-speed (400 – 1000 km/s) solar wind particles and attain unprecedented
acceleration for power input of only a few kW, which can be easily achieved by solar electric units.
Our initial estimates for a minimum system can provide a typical thrust of about 3 Newton
continuous (0.6 MW continuous power), with a specific impulse of 104 to 105 s) to produce an
increase in speed of about 30 km/s in a period of 3 months. Proposed optimization could allow
the development of a system that increases the acceleration with less expenditure of fuel so that a
mission that could leave the solar system could become a reality.

Mesicopter: A Meso-Scale Flight Vehicle
ILAN KROO
Stanford University
A team of researchers from Stanford University, SRI, and M-DOT Corporation propose to build the
‘mesicopter’, a centimeter-size electric helicopter, designed to stay airborne while carrying its own
power supply. This device represents a revolutionary class of flight vehicles at an unprecedented
size, and suggests a range of potential uses. The proposed work focuses on the development of
mesicopters for atmospheric science, permitting in-situ measurements of meteorological
phenomena such as downbursts and wind shear, and with unique capabilities for planetary
atmospheric studies. Swarms of mesicopters could provide atmospheric scientists with
information not obtainable using current techniques and could aid in the understanding of
phenomena that play a critical role in aviation safety.
Better characterization of atmospheric phenomena on Mars and other simple sensing tasks may
be feasible with these very low mass and low cost aerial micro-robots. The mesicopter will
pioneer the application of new aerodynamic design concepts and novel fabrication techniques,
including solid free-form fabrication and VLSI processing steps. These techniques may ultimately
allow the mesicopter to be scaled down to millimeter dimensions. Significant challenges are
anticipated in the areas of materials, battery technology, aerodynamics, control and testing. This
proposal describes work for the first phase of the program in which initial designs and fabrication
tests are used to evaluate the concept’s feasibility. An outline of subsequent phases is also
provided.

Self-Transforming Robotic Planetary Explorers
STEVEN DUBOWSKY
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
While the 1997 Sojourner mission was an outstanding technical feat, future robotic exploration
systems will need to be far more capable. They will need to explore challenging planetary terrain,
such as on Mars, with very limited human direction. To achieve this capability, major revolutionary
breakthroughs in planetary robotic technology will be required. Here a new and potentially very
important concept for robotic explorers is proposed. These are self-transforming planetary
explorers – systems that are able to autonomously change their physical and software structure to
meet the challenges of its environment and task. Such systems could dramatically enhance the
ability of planetary explorers to survive and to successfully complete their mission objectives.
In the concept, the robotic systems would be constructed with reconfigurable elements, or
modules. Based on sensor information and onboard models and analysis, the system would
autonomously transform itself into the “best” configuration to meet the local challenges.
System configurations that could be self-constructed from the original basic system are called
cognates. Realizing effective and practical self-transforming systems is difficult for a number of
reasons. During this Phase I program, the feasibility of the concept will be studied. While the
challenges associated with this study are substantial, so are the potential benefits. If the self-transformation
concept can be practically applied, it could significantly impact future planetary
exploration missions in the year 2010 and beyond.

Moon and Mars Orbiting Spinning Tether Transport (MMOSTT)
ROBERT P. HOYT
Tethers Unlimited, Inc.
Systems of rotating momentum-exchange tether facilities can repeatedly transport payloads
between low Earth orbit, geostationary orbit, the Moon, and Mars with minimal propellant
expenditure. The Phase I effort developed a design for a Cislunar Tether Transport System that
uses one tether in elliptical, equatorial Earth orbit and one tether in low lunar orbit. Numerical
modeling verified that this system could provide round-trip travel between LEO and the surface of
the Moon with near-zero propellant requirements. Using currently available tether materials, such
a system would require a total mass of less than 28 times the mass of the payloads it can handle.
Because a rocket-based system would require a propellant mass of at least 16 times the payload
mass to perform the same job, the fully-reusable tether system would be competitive from a
perspective after only two trips, and would provide large cost savings for frequent round-trip travel.
The Phase I effort also developed a conceptual design for a tether system for rapid Earth-Mars
travels. In the Phase II effort, we will combine and improve these system designs to develop a
tether transportation architecture that can combine and improve these system designs to develop
a tether transportation architecture that can provide low-cost transport to the Moon, Mars, and
elsewhere in the solar system. In order to determine specific requirements for the hardware and
technologies needed for tether transport systems, we will investigate concepts for enabling
payload capsules to rende3zvous with rotating tether systems, we will investigate concepts for
enabling payload capsules to rendezvous with rotating tether facilities, and develop methods to
minimize propellant requirements and maximize rendezvous windows. We will then develop a
detailed design for a low-cost flight experiment to begin demonstrating the momentum-exchange
tether technologies needed to create tether transport systems.
INTERPLANETARY TRANSPORT USING
ROTATING TETHERS
Payload pick-up
Payload release Origin
Escape
trajectory Interplanetary
trajectory
Destination
Inbound
trajectory
Payload release
Payload capture
Patch point
Tapered tether
Loaded Tether
Center of mass
orbit
Tapered tether
Loaded Tether
Center of mass
orbit
Patch point
Earth’s gravitational
sphere of influence
Mars’ gravitational
sphere of influence
Sol

Very Large Optics for the Study of Extrasolar Terrestrial Planets
NEVILLE J. WOOLF
University of Arizona, Steward Observatory
To evaluate habitability and to research for primitive life on Earth-like planets of other stars,
telescopes in space with collecting areas of 10 m 2 to 1,000k000 m 2 are needed. We propose to
study revolutionary solutions for reflecting telescope in this size range, going beyond technologies
we are developing for adaptive secondary mirrors and for ultra-lightweight panels for the NGST.
Ways will be explored to build very large lightweight mirrors and to correct their surface errors. As
a specific example, we will study a 100 m reflector with a concave NGST-size secondary relay that
images the primary onto a 5-m deformable tertiary. The primary, free-flying 2 km from the
secondary would be assembled from 5-m flat segments made as reflecting membranes stretched
across triangular frames. A 1/20 scale (5 m) image of the primary is formed on the deformable
mirror, itself segmented, where panel deformation would be corrected. Scalloping of the
segments would compensate the missing curvature of primary segments.

An Ultra-High Throughput X-Ray Astronomy Observatory with A New
Mission Architecture
PAUL GORENSTEIN
Smithsonian Institution, Astrophysical Observatory
We propose a study of new mission architecture for an ultra high throughput x-ray astronomy
observatory containing a 10 m aperture telescope and a set of detectors. It has potentially much
better ratios of effective area to weight and cost than current approaches for the 1 m class AXAF,
XMM and “next generation” 3 m class observatories. Instead of a single spacecraft that contains
the telescope, the optical bench, and a fixed limited set of detectors in the new architecture, the
telescope and an unlimited number of detectors are all on separate spacecraft. Their trajectories
are in the same vicinity either in high Earth orbit or the L2 point. Usually, only one of the detectors
is active. The active detector places and maintains itself at the telescope’s focus by station
keeping. Its distance and aspect sensors provide signals that drive electric propulsion engines on
the detector spacecraft, which regulate its distance from the telescope to be precisely equal to the
focal length.
Unlike current systems, detectors can be replaced and new ones added by launching a small
spacecraft that will rendezvous with the others. To reduce its mass, the telescope has a
segmented architecture and the segments are actively aligned. The study will identify the nature
and magnitude of problems that need to be solved in order to develop a 10 m class X-ray
astronomy observatory with these new architectures. The study will involve both analysis and
laboratory measurements. The mission architecture is applicable to other observatories.

Advanced System Concept for Total ISRU-Based Propulsion and Power
Systems for Unmanned and Manned Mars Exploration
ERIC E. RICE
Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC)
ORBITEC proposes to conceptualize cost-beneficial Mars ISRU-based systems and an overall architecture for
producing and utilizing optimized Mars-based ISRU propellant combinations that are derived from the atmosphere to
support ground and flight transportation and power systems. For ground systems, we include: automated unmanned
roving vehicles, personal vehicles, two-person unpressurized rovers, manned pressurized transport rovers and larger
cargo transports. For flight systems, we include: Mars sample return vehicles, unmanned and manned surface-to-surface
“ballistic hoppers,” surface-to-orbit vehicles, interplanetary transport vehicles, powered balloons, winged
aerocraft, single-person rocket backpacks, and single-person rocket platforms. Auxiliary power systems include:
Brayton cycle turbines and fuel cells for small Mars outposts.
In Phase I, we accomplished a preliminary systems study which provided the approach needed to ultimately assess the
benefits of our ISRU proposed architecture. For the cost-effective human exploration of Mars, we will need to use in-situ
resources that are available on Mars, such as: energy (solar); gases or liquids for life support, ground transportation,
and flight to and from other surface locations, orbit and Earth; and materials for shielding, habitats and infrastructure.
Probably the most cost-effective and easiest use of Martian resources is the atmosphere (95.5% CO2). CO2 can be
easily processed and converted to carbon monoxide or carbon and oxygen propellants (SCO/LOX, C/LOX) and with
hydrogen, either Earth-supplied or also derived from the Mars atmosphere (via H2O) or Mars soil, many more ISRU
propellant options become available, including: C2H2/LOX, C2H4/LOX, CH3OH/LOX, CH4/LOX, C3Hg/LOX, LH2/SOX,
LH2/LOX, CH3OH/H2O2, etc. With small amounts of N2 also in the atmosphere (2.7%), propellant ingredients such as
N2O, N2O4, N2H4, MMH, UDMH are possible.
ORBITEC proposes to conduct the necessary advanced concept analysis that will provide the knowledge base required
to eventually select the resources and systems that are the most effective in keeping space exploration costs low. In
this study, we will focus on the innovative and revolutionary use of solid CO, C and C2H2 as fuels in hybrid rocket
propulsion and power system applications. However, we plan to evaluate all reasonable potential ISRU propellant
options and develop “families” of propellants that are optimally used in the overall transportation and chemical energy
storage systems. New advanced cryogenic hybrid rocket propulsion systems are also proposed that will tremendously
improve the performance of CO/O2, C/O2, or C2H2/O2 propulsion (as well as others, e.g., CH4/LOX) such that these
could be the best options for transportation and power needs. The implementation of this architecture is expected to
greatly support logistics and base operations by providing a reliable and simple way to store solar or nuclear generated
energy in the form of chemical energy that can be used for ground transportation and power generators. ORBITEC has
proven that the CO/O2 propulsion concept is technically feasible by conducting test firings of a small-scale solid CO/O2
hybrid!
In this Phase II effort, ORBITEC proposes to completely develop a long-term Mars ISRU-based propellant architecture
that is optimized to keep Mars exploration and colonization costs to a minimum. We propose to conduct some
straightforward rocket engine tests in our current hardware with SC/O2 and SC2H2/O2 to determine the feasibility of
these higher performing propellant combinations. We expect that our analysis shall show significant cost-benefit for
ISRU propellants and that we shall be able to confidently recommend the top groups or families of propellant
combinations that can satisfy the across-the-board transportation and auxiliary power needs of our Mars
exploration/colonization activities of the 21st century. This information should then allow the right emphasis on
technology and system development

Global Constellation of Stratospheric Scientific Platforms
KERRY T. NOCK
Global Aerospace Corporation
Global Aerospace Corporation (GAC) is developing a revolutionary and cross-cutting concept for a global
constellation of hundreds of stratospheric super-pressure balloons which can address major scientific
questions relating to NASA’s Earth Science Mission by measuring stratospheric gases, collecting data on
atmospheric circulation, observing the Earth’s surface, and detecting and monitoring environmental hazards.
Such a system could augment and complement satellite measurements and possibly replace satellites for
making some environmental measurements.
The technical and programmatic keys to this new concept are:
• Achievable constellation geometry management,
• Significant and cost-effective scientific applications,
• Affordable, long-duration balloon systems,
• International agreements on overflight,
• Balloon trajectory control capability, and
• A global communications infrastructure.
In the satellite era, there has been a shift away from making conventional in situ measurements of the global
environment to remote sensing from Earth orbiting spacecraft. After forty years, there may be some reason
to challenge this remote sensing paradigm with a new in situ strategy. In combination, (a) the advance of
electronics, (b) the inherent difficulty of making some remote measurements from satellites, and (c) the
interest in simultaneous global measurements, argue for a reevaluation of the current reliance on satellites
for many global environmental measurements.
Total system cost for balloon constellations may be competitive with or lower than comparable spacecraft
systems due to the inherent high cost of spacecraft and launch vehicles. A network of balloons will be less
costly than a comparable network of spacecraft if the individual balloons have lifetimes measured on the
order of years, thereby reducing the cost of replacement or refurbishment.
GAC is developing sophisticated geometry management strategies for global balloon constellations,
exploring additional science applications and benefits, identifying technology needs and generating
estimates of the cost of implementing such a revolutionary system.
Super-pressure Balloon
~40-50 m
diameter
Gondola
10-15 km
Balloon
Trajectory
Control
System
35-45 km
Flight Altitude
Rel. Wind
0.3-2.0 m/s
Possible
Science
Sensors
Rel. Wind
5-10 m/s

A Realistic Interstellar Explorer
RALPH L. McNUTT, JR.
Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Lab
For more than 20 years, an “Interstellar Precursor Mission” has been discussed as a high priority for our
understanding (1) the interstellar medium and its implications for the origin and evolution of matter in the
Galaxy, (2) the structure of the heliosphere and its interaction with the interstellar environment, and (3)
fundamental astrophysical processes that can be sampled in situ. The chief difficulty with actually carrying
out such a mission is the need for reaching significant penetration into the interstellar medium (~1000
Astronomical Units (AU)1) within the working lifetime of the initiators (<50 years). During the last three years
there has been renewed interest in actually sending a probe to another star system - a “grand challenge” for
NASA – and the idea of a precursor mission has been renewed as a beginning step in a roadmap to achieve
this goal [Anderson, 1999].
In the Phase I work, we have completed an initial scooping of the system requirements and have identified
system drivers for actually implementing such a mission. The proposed Phase II work takes these drivers
and the initial architecture concept and further defines them. In particular, industrial partners have been
identified for some of these tasks and proof-of-principle breadboarding tasks and experiments have been
defined for others. It is important to note that although we will be studying the full system architecture for
the mission, much of the proposed effort is devoted to the development of the spacecraft architecture
required for long-term cruise in deep space, and is so largely independent of the mission design and
propulsion implementation used to provide high-speed escape from the Sun’s gravity.
In the Phase I study we began the task of looking seriously at the spacecraft mechanical, propulsion, and
thermal constraints involved in escaping the solar system at high speed by executing a ΔV maneuver of ~10
to 15 km/s in the thermal environment of ~4 RS (from the center of the Sun) remains challenging. Two
possible techniques we identified for achieving high thrust levels near the Sun are: (1) using solar heating of
gas propellant, and (2) using a scaled-down Orion (nuclear external combustion) approach. We
investigated architectures that combined with miniaturized avionics and miniaturized instruments, enable
such a mission to be launched on a vehicle with characteristics not exceeding those of a Delta III.
We will examine a variety of propulsion means and their associated architectures including both solar flyby
impulsive and low-thrust continuous concepts. We do not propose to consider any “breakthrough physics”
propulsion schemes [Millis, 1999] as these are not in keeping with our self-imposed ground rules for
considering “realistic” probe architectures.
We do propose to continue the cruise configuration architecture work [our NIAC Phase I Report and McNutt
et al., 1999] with an emphasis on long-lived, self-healing architectures and redundancies that will extend the
probe lifetime to well over a century. Such a long-lived probe could be queried at random over decades of
otherwise hands-off operations. Finally, we will also look at the various systems trades for cruise
architectures/propulsion system combinations. This systems approach for such an Interstellar Explorer has
not been previously used to address all of these relevant engineering questions and will also lead to (1) a
probe concept that can be implemented following a successful Solar Probe mission (concluding around
2010), and (2) system components and approaches for autonomous operation of other deep-space probes
within the solar system during the 2010 to 2050 time frame.

Hypersonic Airplane Space Tether Orbital Launch (HASTOL) Study
JOHN GRANT
The Boeing Corporation
The Hypersonic Airplane Space Tether Orbital Launch (HASTOL) concept combines the best
features of fully reusable jet airplanes and space tethers to move payloads from Earth to space.
The hypersonic airplane flies a 15-ton payload in a ballistic arc that reaches Mach 10 to 12 at an
altitude of 100 km. The airplane is met by a homing grapple at the end of a rotating 600-km-long
tapered tether in a 700-km orbit. The grapple couples to the payload, and the tether rotation lifts
the payload into space at a mild 2.5 g’s.
In Phase I, Boeing and Tethers Unlimited, Inc. (TUI), found rendezvous conditions in which a
space tether can reach the Boeing DF-9 hypersonic airplane without overheating its tip. DF-9 is
similar to the X-43 research vehicle scheduled to fly in summer 2000 at Mach 10. It uses JP-fueled
air-breathing turboramjets up to Mach 4.5, with slush-hydrogen and air/oxygen ram/scram
engines above 4.5. The space tether uses Spectra polymer, and its zylon (PBO) tip warms only to
40°C during aeropass. The tether facility can restore its spin and orbit energy after each payload
pickup by using electrodynamic propulsion and tether length pumping, which require solar energy
but no propellant, while the grapple requires only a little propellant for each rendezvous.
In Phase II, we will study technology issues and identify solutions. Subsystem simulation models
will be improved and coupled to find the combination that provides reliable payload transfer at low
cost. We will identify potential users and upcoming flight mission opportunities, developing
variations on the basic architecture to match the users and missions. This will result in a
technology roadmap that shows how the HASTOL architecture can be developed through a series
of technology and flight demonstrations.

X-ray Interferometry
WEBSTER CASH
University of Colorado
The x-ray band of the spectrum is the natural band for ultra-high resolution imaging. The sources
have high surface brightness, the features are unusually compact, and the short wavelengths
allow high resolution in relatively small instruments. In Phase I we reviewed the scientific potential
of x-ray interferometry and showed how spatial resolution a billion times finer than HST’s can be
achieved in the foreseeable future. That extraordinary improvement in resolution will enable new
probes of extreme environments like the warped space-time regions above the event horizons of
black holes. We present an instrument design concept for the observatory, set the mission
requirements and tabulate the instrument tolerances. We have studied the component
technologies that are needed to assemble a full mission. We have uncovered the limitations on
the eventual spatial resolution and show how the system can function down to a nano-arcsecond
and below. It is our purpose to make a convincing case to both NASA and the science community
that this advanced concept is of use in future missions. With the additional study proposed for
Phase II it should be possible to fully demonstrate a reliable technical pathway to the launch of an
exciting new class of scientific mission.

ANTHONY COLOZZA
Ohio Aerospace Institute
The Mars environment, particularly the low atmospheric density, makes flight much more difficult than on Earth,
requiring an aircraft to fly within a very low Reynolds number/high Mach number regime. A possible solution is the use
of an entomopter, a mechanical flying machine utilizing insect flight characteristics. Their similar Reynolds number flight
regime indicates air vehicle system potential for future Mars exploration missions.
Insects are able to fly at a significantly higher Coefficient of Life (CL) than conventional airplanes (~CL = 1), due to their
unique lift generation mechanisms. Utilizing these mechanisms as well as flow control over the wings, an entomopter
can achieve lift coefficients from 5 to 8 times higher than those theoretically possible from the wing shape itself. This
enhanced lifting capability could allow an entomopter to carry up to 15 kg of payload while flying at 30 m/s.
The Phase II program will involve investigation of the aerodynamics, appropriate propulsion methods, Mars compatible
propellants, and the potential for fuel synthesis from indigenous materials. Autonomous and self-stabilizing behavior
and control will be investigated for flight operations, refueling, communications, and navigation. The existing body of
knowledge from terrestrial applications research and patents will be leveraged to enhance the vehicle’s capabilities.
An entomopter based exploration vehicle system with in situ generated refueling could provide a flexible system for long
duration exploration of the Mars surface. A 1 m. wingspan entomopter may be an elegant and practical architecture to
produce a vehicle with the ability to take off, land, return samples, and even hover, providing significant mission
capability enhancements over conventional aircraft.

The Space Elevator
BRADLEY CARL EDWARDS
Eureka Scientific
Currently NASA and all space agencies are completely dependent on rockets to get into space. Several
advanced propulsion systems are being examined by NASA and others, but few, if any, of these
technologies, even if perfected, can provide the high-volume, low-cost transportation system that will be
required for the future space activities mankind hopes for. A system that may have the required traits is the
one that we examined in our Phase I, the space elevator. The space elevator, a cable that can be
ascended from Earth to space, is unlike any other transportation system for getting into space. Our Phase I
laid down the technical groundwork examining all aspects of a proposed first elevator, but was unable to test
many of the designs and scenarios proposed. The hurdles were found and the technology requirements for
the system quantified. Even we, the proposers, were surprised by the apparent feasibility of the space
elevator, the availability of almost all of the required technology, and the affordability of the first elevator.
Our Phase II effort is the critical next step. It will begin to answer many of the questions that remain, provide
direction for future research and be crucial for future funding and programmatic decisions. In Phase II we
will construct cable segments from carbon nanotube composites and test their general characteristics as
well as their resistance to meteor and atomic oxygen damage. We will examine critical aspects of the space
elevator design such as the anchor and power beaming systems, cable production, environmental impact,
the budget and the major design trade-offs. Our previous work along with our Phase II results will then be
introduced into the NASA mainstream effort through a conference and publication.

Methodology for the Study of Autonomous VTOL Scalable Logistics
ANDY KEITH
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Substantial and promising results have been obtained by Sikorsky Aircraft during a NIAC Phase I study of an
Autonomous VTOL Scalable Logistics Architecture (AVSLA). AVSLA is envisioned to be a future cargo delivery
“system-of-systems” that provides cheaper, more efficient, and more effective service to the nation’s consumers.
Related VTOL vehicles for military heavy-lift purposes are also likely to benefit from AVSLA technology. The stated goal
of the NIAC Phase II program is to provide a sound basis for NASA to use in considering advanced concepts for future
missions. Thus, this Phase II proposal focuses on specific, critical research areas identified for AVSLA. The overall
technical objective is to develop a system-of-systems model of the AVSLA design space, complete with supporting
analyses in key areas that, when combined with advanced feasibility/viability determination methods, can establish a
solid basis for a full-scale research program at NASA. In addition, a successful research program could be leveraged by
Sikorsky Aircraft to obtain other funding in support of the development of an AVSLA.
Several areas critical to transforming AVSLA from an idea to reality were identified in Phase I. These technology areas
include on-board vehicle computing functions (including communication, navigation, and safety), reliable autonomous
control, air traffic management (ATM) system integration, and transportation architecture scalability. The Phase II effort
proposed here provides the framework and steps for examining feasibility and viability of alternative AVSLA concepts
and identification and assessment of the necessary new technologies in these areas. Research of these technology
areas requires much more effort than possible in the NIAC Phase II. Thus, with the likely benefits of a deployable,
efficient AVSLA established, these areas could form the basis of NASA research programs aimed at support for future
systems. Missions enabled by AVSLA, including efficient, cost-effective package delivery and unique military tasks, are
extremely important to the nation from economic, environmental, and national security points-of-view.
The Sikorsky-led Phase II team (a pairing of Sikorsky with the Georgia Institute of Technology) brings unique scientific
and technical capabilities required to properly characterize the AVSLA system-of-systems design space. These unique
capabilities lie in three critical areas: 1) system design methodologies, focused on future concept development and the
probabilistic evaluation of new technologies and overall affordability, 2) systems dynamics and VTOL vehicle modeling,
and 3) access to key expertise across the relevant disciplines and domains.

Cyclical Visits to Mars via Astronaut Hotels
KERRY T. NOCK
Global Aerospace Corporation
Global Aerospace Corporation is developing a revolutionary concept for an overall interplanetary rapid transit system
architecture for human transportation between Earth and Mars which supports a sustained Mars base of 20 people circa
2035. This innovative design architecture relies upon the use of small, highly autonomous, solar-electric-propelled
space ships, we dub Astrotels for astronaut hotels and hyperbolic rendezvous between them and planetary transport
hubs using even smaller, fast-transfer, aeroassist vehicles we call Taxis. Astrotels operating in cyclic orbits between
Earth, Mars and the Moon and Taxis operating on rendezvous trajectories between Astrotels and transport hubs or
Spaceports will enable low-cost, low-energy, frequent and short duration trips between these bodies. This proposed
effort provides a vision of a far off future which establishes a context for near-term technology advance, systems
studies, robotic Mars missions and human spaceflight. In this fashion Global Aerospace Corporation assists the NASA
Enterprise for Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) in all four of its goals, namely (1) preparing to
conduct human missions of exploration to planetary and other bodies in the solar system, (2) expanding scientific
knowledge, (3) providing safe and affordable access to space, and (4) establishing a human presence in space. Key
elements of this innovative, new concept are the use of:
1. Five month human flights between Earth and Mars on cyclic orbits,
2. Small, highly autonomous human transport vehicles or Astrotels,
- In cyclic orbits between Earth and Mars
- Solar Electric Propulsion for orbit corrections
- Untended for more than 20 out of 26 months
- No artificial gravity
3. Fast-transfer, aeroassist vehicles, or Taxis, between Spaceports and the cycling Astrotels,
4. Low energy, long flight-time orbits and unmanned vehicles for the transport of cargo
5. in situ resources for propulsion and life support
6. Environmentally safe, propulsion/power technology
Astrotel IPS Taxi during Mars Aerocapture Taxi departing
Illustrates a schematic of
the overall concept for
regular human visits to
Mars via an Astrotel
concept that uses cyclic
interplanetary orbits.

GEORGE MAISE
Plus Ultra Technologies, Inc.
We propose continued investigation of the design, operation, and data gathering possibilities of a nuclear-powered
ramjet flyer in the Jovian atmosphere. The MITEE nuclear rocket engine can be modified to operate as a ramjet in
planetary atmospheres. (Note: MITEE is a compact, ultra-light-weight thermal nuclear rocket which uses hydrogen as
the propellant.) To operate as a ramjet, MITEE requires a suitable inlet and diffuser to substitute for the propellant that
is pumped from the supply tanks in a nuclear rocket engine. Such a ramjet would fly in the upper Jovian atmosphere,
mapping in detail temperatures, pressures, compositions, lightning activity, and wind speeds. The nuclear ramjet could
operate for months because: 1) the Jovian atmosphere has unlimited propellant, 2) the MITEE nuclear reactor is a
(nearly) unlimited power source, and 3) with few moving parts, mechanical wear should be minimal. During Phase I of
this project, we developed a conceptual design of a ramjet flyer and its nuclear engine. The flyer incorporates a swept-wing
design with instruments located in the twin wing-tip pods (away from the radiation source and readily shielded).
The vehicle is 2 meters long with a 2 meter wingspan. Its mass is 220 kg, and its nominal flight Mach number is 1.5.
Based on combined neutronic and thermal/hydraulic analyses, we calculated that the ambient pressure range over
which the flyer can operate to be from about 0.04 to 4 (terrestrial) atmospheres. This altitude range encompasses the
three uppermost cloud layers in the Jovian atmosphere: 1) the entire uppermost visible NH3 ice cloud layer [where
lightning has been observed], 2) the entire NH4HS ice cloud layer, and 3) the upper portion of the H2O ice cloud layer.
To continue the validation of the ramjet flyer concept, additional work is required in several areas. These include a
detailed study of radiation effects on instruments, flight stability of the vehicle in the highly turbulent Jovian atmosphere,
data storage and transmission.

2000annualreport[1]

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